Timing of repair of ischemic ventricular septal rupture; results of early vs. late repair

Background: The optimal time to repair ischemic ventricular septal rupture (VSR) is debatable. We compared the outcomes, including operative mortality, between patients who underwent early vs. late VSR repair. Methods: Twenty-eight patients presented with VSR were included in this study. Patients were grouped according to the timing of repair into two groups; the early repair group (n= 12) and the late repair group (n= 16). The primary endpoint was operative mortality. Results: There was no difference in age, gender, and associated comorbidities between between early and late repair. Anteroapical VSR was the most common type in both groups. There was no difference in the number of bypass grafts in both groups. Ischemic (95 (88- 142.5) vs. 137 (120- 147.5) min; P= 0.028) and cardiopulmonary bypass times (123.5 (115.5- 177.5) vs. 172.5 (152.5- 185) min; P= 0.023) were significantly shorter in patients who had delayed repair. Nine patients (75%) had operative mortality in the early repair group versus three patients (18.75%) in the late repair group (P= 0.006). There were no differences in blood loss, stroke, wound infection, ICU, and ward stay among the surviving patients. Conclusion: Delayed repair of ischemic ventricular septal rupture could be associated with lower mortality in properly selected patients. Additionally, the delayed repair could decrease the ischemic and cardiopulmonary bypass times.